Thyrotropin Alfa is is a recombinant of thyroid stimulating hormone that belongs to the class of medications called diagnostic agents. FDA approved it initially on 30th November, 1998 for its medical use. 

Thyrotropin alfa is available as an injection.  It is used in people who have had their thyroid gland removed and are taking thyroid hormones to detect certain types of thyroid cancer. It is also used with radioiodine treatment to eliminate the thyroid tissue which is left over after surgical removal of the thyroid gland in patients who do not have secondary cancer growths and in those who are taking thyroid hormone.

Thyrotropin Alfa will be administered to you by a doctor or other healthcare professional in a hospital setting trained in cancer chemotherapy. Your doctor will decide the dose, route of administration, and duration of the therapy based on your disease status, severity, and other factors such as body weight, other disease conditions, and age. This medicine will be given intramuscularly. Do not self-administer the injection. 

The common side effects of thyrotropin alfa are headache, nausea, and vomiting. Other serious side effects include hyperthyroidism, severe skin hypersensitivity, and CNS problem. 

This injection may cause drug-induced thyroid. Check your thyroid levels regularly. Stroke has been reported in patients receiving this injection. Report any symptoms of face drooping, arm weakness, or speaking difficulties immediately to your physician. 

Inform your physician if you have heart, kidney, or liver disease before initiating the treatment. Due to limited data, the medicine's safety in children is not well established. No special precautions are needed for elderly patients taking this medicine. Do not breastfeed or become pregnant during the treatment with this medicine. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, suspecting, or planning for pregnancy before receiving this medicine.  

Inform your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, nutritional and vitamin supplements, and herbal products. Certain medications interact with thyrotropin alfa and reduce its effectiveness by causing undesirable side effects. Inform your doctor if you are using birth control pills.

Store in a refrigerator (2°C - 8°C). Protect the medicine from light and excessive moisture. . Keep the medicine out of reach of children and pets. If you missed the dosing schedule, inform your healthcare professional immediately and reschedule. This medicine will be administered to you by a healthcare professional, and you will be monitored throughout the treatment. The injection will be given intramuscularly (into your muscles). Drink extra fluids before treatment with this medicine. You may receive additional medication before starting the treatment with this medicine. Inform your physician if you are using birth control pills. This medicine may be given together with radioiodine. You will be exposed to radiation while receiving radioiodine. Talk with your doctor about precautions that you should take for yourself and for the people around you.

1. Thyrogen 0.9 mg powder for solution for injection - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). www.medicines.org.uk. Published September 2022. Accessed May 5, 2023. http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/235/smpc
2. Genzyme Corporation, US Food and Drug Administration, [ Accessed on may 5, 2023], https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/020898s051lbl.pdf
3. Ujjal Mallick et al; Ablation with low-dose radioiodine and thyrotropin alfa in thyroid cancer; The New England Journal of Medicine; Published on May 2012; Accessed on 05/05/2023; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22551128/

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice. It is meant for educational purposes only. For further details, consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you can receive this treatment.